Telephone switch



March 24, 1925.

E. w. GENT TELEPHONE SWITCH Filed oct. 24,` 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l www ` LLLL [dyaf h/. Genf,

March 24, 1925.

E. w. Gli-:NT

TELEPHONE SWITCH 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Oct. l24, 1922 Patented Mar. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Encan Wi GENT, 0E' MO-EE'ISTOWNNEW JERSEY, As'sIGNOE To WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OE NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OE NEW YORK.

TELEPHONE SWITCH.

Application led October 24; 1922.

To ZZ whom it may co/acera.'

Be it known that I. EDGAR 1V. GENT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Morristown, in the county of Morris, State ot New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulv Improvements in Telephone Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to automatic telephone exchange switching apparatus and particularly to lthe so-called coordinate switches of the type employed in automatic telephone exchanges.

This invention is particularly adaptable to a switching system of the type generally -disclosed in British patent toVestern Elec# tric Compa-ny, Limited, No.` 183,438, accepted September 6, 1923. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that` this invention may be applied equally well to perform other switching functions.

Heretofore', and particularly in the switch disclosed in." the above mentioned British patent, the practice has been to have a rotatv able bar assigned to each group of incoming lines. Other rotatable bars are assigned individually to Vlink conductors and 4still others to outgoing lines or trunks.v At the intersections ofthe bars are provided camming cards for operating sets of movable contacts and bringing them into engagement with sets of stationary contacts. Each of said bars is common to a plurality of the camming cards, so that if a bar becomes inoperative it throws out of operation a. plurality of contact sets.

The object of this inventionl is to provide a simple and economical switching structure of the character above described having operating means individually associated with each set ot active contacts.

This object is accomplished by providing a pair oit electromagnets for each Contact set. The successive energization of the magnets of any pair is effect-ive in moving a camming card in such a manner as to effect an engagement between sets of active and passive contacts.

In accordance with another feature of this invention the passive contacts are obliquely disposed and embedded between two insulating members, so that upon actuation of a camming member, a wiping en# Serial No. 596,546.

gagement is effect-ed between its associated set of active contacts and a. corresponding set of passive contacts.

y The invention will be more readily understood from the following description, reiference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a partial assembly view of a switch embodying the features of this invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AB or" Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.- Fig. 3 is a sectional and partial assembly view of the grid showing the clamps for securing the wires between the insulating plates'. Fig. 4 is a circuit which may be employed tor controlling` the operation ot' the magnets employed inthis switch.

The grid structure employed in mounting the sets ot' passive contacts suoli as 5, 6, 'T and 8 and 9, 10, 11 and 1Q consists of two apertured insulating plates 1 and 2 between which a sott iibrous material 90 such as tar paper is inserted for the purpose ot embedding the passive contacts therein, when the insulatingplates land 2 are pressed together and held in close proximity by the eyelets 4.

The structure may be oit any desired width and height to accommodate as many vertical rows of active contact sets and as many sets per row as may be required depending upon the switch capacity desired. The active Contact wires 13, 14, 15 and 16, etc. are made preferably of bare wire and are embedded in vertical bars 21 of insulating material, which are supported at their end portions on the switch frame (not shown).

Each set of active Contact wires is provided with an operating card 22, slidably arranged in a guide 23. Each card has a number of apertures 24, 25, 9.6 and 2T through which the active wires 13, 1l, 15 and 16 extend in juxtaposition with their associated passive contacts or link conductors 9, 10, 11 and 12` and into the grid apertures 28, 29, 30 and 31, respectively.

The operating cards 2:2 are shown supported on movable supports 32, which, like the active Contact wires have one end thereof embedded in the vertical bar 21. The free ends of the movable supports 32 pass through apertures 33 in the guides 23 and engage their respective camming cards 22. The aperture 33 serves to limit the upward movement ofthe card 22 thereby preventing distortion of the active contacts should the armature 36 of the operating magnets suchas 34 and 39 tend to drive the card 22 beyond its operated position. The supports 32 are springs, tensioned to move the active contacts down and out of engagement with the passive contacts.

Each operating card 22'is provided with a set of operating magnets such as 35 and 40 which function sequentially. The operation of a magnet such as 34 causes the projection 43 on armature 36 to assume an operable position relative to the card 22,v whereas a magnet such as 39 upon energizing thereafter, causes the card 22 to be forced upwardly in the guide 23. The armature 36 which is common to -both magnets in a set is also provided with two right angularly disposed projections which are located in close proximity with the poles of the magnets in its respective set, and are adapted to be attracted thereby. A coupling 38 is employed to mount the armature 36 on the switch frame 41 and to permit it to have a universal movement relative thereto. rfhe sequential operation of the magnets in any set moves the card 22 associated witlrsaid set upwardly, causing the active contacts to be carried upwardly and due to the oblique disposition of the passive contacts relative t-o the direction-of approach of the active contacts, a wiping engagement is effected between said active and passive contacts.

From the foregoing description it is evident that `the conjoint operation of the two magnets in a set causes the establishment of a connection between the active and passive contacts of that set, and it is to'be noted that by means of the notched portion 43 of armature 36 such a connection is maintained as long as the operating magnet such as 39 remains energized regardless of whether or not the associated selecting magnet 34 becomes deenergized.

Having described the switch structure and its operation the following description made with reference to Fig. 4 will be directed to a circuit employing a switch of the nature heretofore described. There are shown two groups of two incoming'lines, the first group containing lines 14@- and 148 and the second group containing lines 149 and 150.

Let it be assumed that the subscriber` on line 148 wishes to .converse with another subscriber whoselineis'to be reached over the outgoing trunk179.

The subscriber on line 148 upon removing his receiver from the switchhool; establishes al circuit for the energization of the line relay 154. rllhis circuit extends from ground, left-hand vwinding of relay vv154, back Contact and outer left-hand arma' ture of cut-off relay 155,'the closed loop ofl line 148, vthe inner left-hand armature and back contact ofcut-o relay 155, right-hand winding of line relay 154 to battery and ground. Relay 154 upon energizing establishes a circuit from ground,- the upper armature and back contact of magnet 152, conductors 100 and 101, the front contact and inner right-hand armature of relay 154, conductor 102 and thence in parallel through the windings of all the selecting magnets 134, 135, 136 to battery and ground. Magnets 134, 135, 136, etc. which are multipled in the `same vertical row, energize and move their armatures into operable relation with their respective cards 22. Magnet 134 in attracting its armatures closes a circuit from ground, inner right-hand armature and front contact of magnet 134, conductor 104, back Contact and outer left-hand armature of slow release relay 146, conductors 105 and 106, winding of magnet 164 to battery and ground. The operation of magnet 134 also establishes a circuit branching from vconductor 106, and thence in parallel through the windings of magnets 1641, 166, etc. to battery and ground. The magnets164, 1641, 166, etc. multipled in thev same vertical row thereupon energize and similarly to magnets 134 and 135 move their armatures into operative relation with their respective cards 22. The operation of lany column of incoming line magnets, each column including a magnet such as 134, will serve, at the outer right-hand armature thereof to open the battery circuit of the selective magnets for all other incoming lines, thereby preventing two simultaneously calling lines from being lconnected to theL same link. Magnet 164 in attracting its armature completes a locking circuit for itself extending from'ground, inner righthandarmature and front contactof magnet 134, conductors 104 and 109, inner armature and front contact ofmagnet 164, outer armature and back contact of relay 151, conductors 105 and 106, through the winding of magnet 164 to battery and ground. This locking circuit is necessary, because, upon the energi'zation of magnet 164, a circuit is established from ground, outer left-hand armature and front contact of magnet 164, winding of slow release relay 146 to battery and ground, causing the energization. of this latter relay and the opening of the original energizing circuit. of magnet 164. Magnet 164 also'closes a circuit from ground, through the middle armature and front con- 1 tact of magnet 164, conductor 110, left-hand armature and front contact of magnet 134, conductors 111 and 112, the outer right-hand armature and back contact of relay 159, conductor 113, the outer' right-hand armature and front Contact of line relay 154, kconductor 114, the normal contacts of magnet 152,

winding ot magnet 152 to battery and ground. Continuing from conductor 114 circuits may be traced' through the normal contacts, ot' magnet 1391, 1391l and 13911 through their respective windiirgs to grounded battery. Magnets 152', 139". etc'. become energized in this circuit and thereupon cause' the lifting ot their associated varmat"ures 36 however only the cards 22 iinlividual to magnets 152' and 139l are operated whereupon a circuit is established which i'i'ray be traced trom conductors 18, 14, 15l and 16, through the conductors 91,10, 11 and 12, respectively, to conductors 166, 161, 162 and 163', respectively'. 1l circuit is now established from grounded contact and right-hand armature ot relay 146, conductor 162, conductor 11, front contact ot the inner armature oi magnet 152, winding ot magnet 152 to battery and' ground and in parallel therewith tl'i'rough (a) magnets 139', 1391, etc and (b) winding ot cut-oil' relay 155 to' battery Aand ground. Magnet 152 locks up inthe circuit j'ust traced and maintains the connection until' the conversation has ceased and the called party replaces the receiver on tl e switch'hook. The effect of replacing' the receiver on the switclrhooh o1 the calling line will be discussed hereinafter. Cut-oil relay 155 becoming energized opens the| circuit for line relay 154 which retracts its armatures and opens the circuit 'tor both the vertical columns ot selecting magnets which include magnets 134 and 164. so that these magnets release their armatures and the connection is held through the switch by the continued energization ot magnets 152 and 1391. As soon as line 148 is extended to the trunk 179 as a result ot' the operation ot magnets 152 and 139l a circuit through the winding o1 relay 151 is completed over the loop ot the substation and this relay remains energized during the establishment ot the connection. Relay 151 maintains relay 146 energized by placing a ground on the winding ot relay 146 as a substitute for the ground which is now removed by the retraction of armatures of magnet 164.

lVhen the subscriber on line 148 replaces the receiver on the switchhook and opens the loop ot this line, relay 151 becomes deenergized and a short time later relay 146 retracts its armature, removing ground trom conductor 162 and allowing magnets 152, 139 and 139, etc.. to become deenergized, whereupon the operated cards are restored to normal and the connection disrupted.

It is to be noted that should the subscriber on line 147 initiate a call during the period in which line 148 is being connected to the trunk 179, the magnet 134 being energized during the establishment of the connection opens the battery circuit tor all the other selecting magnets. It two lines in the same vertical group such as 14S and 150 call at the: same time, the' energizing circuit tor magnet 152 will be held open at the back contacts ot the line relay 159 for line 150 until theline relay 159 becomes deenergized as a result of the connection o't line 150 with an outgoing trunk after which the calling line 148 may be extended.

The operating magnets 152, 175, etc. associated with the upper' group ot lines have their lower armatures connected iua start wire circuit in order that the ground comeA ing from ther intern'i'ediate armature of the trunk selecting magnet such as 157 will be connected to the lirst idle magnet in the group'. similar start wire circuit is pro vided forthe operating magnets associated with the group of lines 149, 150, etc.

A start wire circuit is also provided tor the trunks in order to connect an incoming line to the first idle trunk. For instance, it trunk 179 had been busy when linel 14S called, the ground Jfrom the inner armature and front contact ot relay 134 would have been extended through the inner armature and back Contact ot relay 164, inner letthand armature and front cont" ct ot relayv 146 to the selecting magnets associated with the trunk 156.

Vliet is claimed is:

1. In a switching mechanism, a set o1 passive contacts, a set ot act-ive contacts. a pair ot electromagnets associated with said active contacts, an armature common to said maignets and capable ot a universal movement, and means effective upon the conjoint operation of said electromagnets whereby said armature moves said active contacts into engagement with said passive contacts.

2. In a switching mechanism, sets ot active contacts, sets ot passive contacts, a card for each set of said active contacts, an armature for each ot' said cards, and a pair ot electromagnets for controlling the movement of each of said armatures, to cause interengagement between said active and passive contacts.

3. In a switching mechanism, sets of active and passive contacts, a plurality ot pairs of electromagnets therefor, an armature for eac-h pair ot magnets and mounted on the switch trame through the instrumentality of a universal joint, and a movable member cooperating with said armature upon the conjoint operation of'said pairs ot magnets to move a set ot active contacts into engagement with a set ot passive contacts.

4; In a coordinate switch structure, sets of normally disengaged active and passive conta-cts, an operating mechanism for each set of said active contacts comprising an armature capable ot movement in two different planes, a magnet for actuating said armature in one ot said planes, and another magnet tor actuating said armature in the other ot said planes, the conjoint loperation of said magnets effecting an engagement between a set of active and passive contacts.

5. In a coordinate switch structure, sets of normally disengaged active and passive contacts arranged in coordinate rows, electromagnetic means for operating said active contacts comprising a plurality of cooperating electromagnets.arranged in pairs, and an armature associated with each pair of said magnets, the sequential energization of' the magnets in any of said pairs being effective to move said armature in such a manner as to effect an engagement between a set of said active and passive contacts. t

6. In a coordinate switch structure, `a grid comprising apertured insulating plates, contacts held in position thereby, other contacts disposed y*at right angles to first said contacts and extending from the apertures in said plates, and means for moving said llast contacts into engagement with said first contacts.

7. In a coordinate switch structure, sets of normally disengaged active and passive contacts arranged 1n coordinate rows, means for selectively operating said active contacts, said means comprising a row of multipled electromagnets associated with each rowof active contacts, and another row of electromagnets associated with each row of passive contacts, the energization of the magnets in the first mentioned row followed by the energization of the magnets in the second mentioned row being effective to inter engagea set of passive and active contacts to establish a circuit connection.

8. In a switching mechanism, electromagnetic means, an armature associated with said electromagnetic means and attractable in a plurality of directions, a contact operating device, means responsive to a particular sequence of movement of said armature to render said contact operating device efl'ective.

9. An electromagnetic device comprising a plurality of windings, and an armature com-mon to lsaid windings and adapted to be attracted in different paths thereby.

10. In a switch, a fixed contact and an elongated movable contact adapted to approach said fixed contact to effect a wiping engagement therewith, said Xed contact being obliquely disposed in a plane extending substantially at right angles to said movable contact.

11.' A switch comprising movable contacts arranged in one plane, fixed contacts' arranged in another plane and obliquely disposed to said first contacts, and means for moving said first contacts in their plane to effect a wiping engagement between said movable and fixed contacts.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 21st day of October', A. I). 1922. 

